For the last several days I’ve been in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic without my family. For someone else that might seem normal enough, but that just means they haven’t met me yet. Traveling? Check! Traveling internationally? Check! Traveling internationally without my husband? That would be an automatic no for me.

However we had an issue with our kids passports; I had no choice. I needed to come and welcome our family and guests, all the while praying hubby could get 24 hour passport renewal without me being in the room. DO NOT…I REPEAT…DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!

(I will save the details for another blog once I can find the humor in it. That hasn’t happened yet! But to whet your appetite It includes the following: nine school children who wouldn’t get out of the street, an irate customer care agent who should hand in her resignation NOW, a monsoon, 15 hours of hunger, struggling up a steep cobblestone hill on a golf cart with no windshield through the previously mentioned monsoon, 4 defunct Internet cafes, a lawyer who can no longer hold his own pen but has the notary stamp, holding back the traffic of 489 aggressive motorcycle drivers, to run through the traffic and that blasted monsoon and at least one donkey.)

Now that my family is here I am once again reminded why it’s so important to authentically focus and take time. To slow down and be present. To cherish the moment. To know that: “one day it could all be otherwise”. To learn more about this concept, check out the last episode of, The Sunday Corner™, on YouTube: bit.ly/ChatoneYT

Last night we celebrated with a special dinner. And while this is not a restaurant review it just might make you hungry to visit the DR and come to this fabulous spot.

Travel with me….

We dined at at “Saffron”, a private restaurant here in Puerto Plata. How it lived up to its name!!

Fresh healing herbs infused into every bite. Yes, the food was amazing. Mediterranean hot and spicy lentil and root vegetable soup, smooth hummus and eggplant purée in tiny white bowls served alongside pickled carrots and beets and thick pita bread straight from the oven. The tender roasted lamb chops the size of beef ribs, the chicken tangine arrived at the table atop pearl potatoes, tiny okra and in a sauce with the perfect bite. All of this feast paired with a delectable deep red wine, then finished with crispy phyllo stuffed with apricots and drizzled with warm honey. We were directly at the ocean in a evening so dark, we could hear the surf and waves and the song of night birds, but see nothing. Not even the sand. It was truly a gorgeous experience.

And yet it became pale because I was in the midst of cherishing that my “forever boyfriend” had finally arrived. Mark Morrison is better than the best dinner in the best location in the best part of the most beautiful island. I have cherished him since I was 14 years old. I want to continue.

When you stop to focus and take time, you notice all the tiny hints of moments to cherish and enjoy.

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This morning my hands lovingly squeezed fresh lemons, making an attempt at distracting me from more senseless killing. The fragrance lingered behind and I was reminded that a 5-minute act can still create joy. There is still beauty created in simple acts.

The thing about our hands is that we use them every single day. All day. With our hands we smooth the skin on our face and body. We rouse awake. Wash our children. Hold our spouses.

With our hands we plant the garden. Cook the food. Make the coffee. Cook the breakfast. Pack the lunches. We sign the homework. Check the backpack. And then we sit them on our hips as a sign. A sign to move on with our day.

These same hands held my 11 year old’s (when no one was looking) when he was a bit nervous on the first day of middle school. They applauded when he could find his locker and got his first “A” of the semester. And in their versatility, they wrung repeatedly when consecutive hurricanes hit and the worry was as deep as the falling rain. Then, my hands became an essential oil diffuser and massaged my temples when I was sleepless.

When I was 18 months old, my right hand was badly burned. The scar is a reminder of my mom and dad screaming through the house, taking care of me. When the weather is cold the skin is ashen, tight, itchy and draws attention. My hand holds this secret that spans my entire life and the memory never ceases to bless me.

Whether I’m in a place of curiosity and courage or gloom and grief, I ask my hands to be on a mission of service. Days like today, I don a black leather “CLARITY” bracelet on my right hand. It’s a nudge in the direction of understanding, gratitude and as much positivity as possible.

Focus and Take Time with your hands. The secrets they tell need never be spoken. Use them to do something simple yet powerful. Change a moment. Change an evening. Change a year. Change a life.

Ready to get your positive energy in check? Looking to clean up your self-talk, create a personal affirmation plan or ease your way into releasing your negativity so your positivity can reign? Complete the questionnaire for a free coaching strategy session.

In the spirit of having a bit of fun and opening up, I have decided to do a series of “Getting to Know Me” blog posts. As a wife, mom, mompreneur, writer, coach, and of course, the Princess of Positivity, I wear a lot of crowns…I mean hats! I’m often so focused on uplifting others, I forget that most of the people who visit my sites or read my material have never met me! So here goes. Look out for an accompanying video…there just might be one coming!

1. Are you named after anyone?

I am! When my dear mom was pregnant with me she met a lady named Chatone. She fell in love with the name and told my dad. He said if I was a boy she could name me Chatone. If I had been a boy I would have been called, Aaron-David Richard-William Curley. Talk about a mouthful. Guess I could have still been the Prince of Positivity! The strange thing is that I never liked my name. No one can ever pronounce it and I am often called something very close to a curse word. (grrrr) My dream name as a child was Priscilla. But alas, when I turned 14, just 2 years shy of the age my parents had agreed I could legally change my name, I fell in love with being the only person on the planet (at least it seemed) that had my name. And since I felt so odd and unique it seemed apropos. But then think of it… Priscilla, the Princess of Positivity. Can’t you just hear the ring in that?!

2. What’s the first thing you notice about people?

I notice eye contact and the facial expression. When I encounter people, I always make eye contact and smile right away. I want to see if I can get them to smile back. It’s probably a bit corny. But then again, positivity is my super power! I am looking for the like-minded ALL THE TIME. Warm eyes and kind faces get my attention.

3. Do you have kids?

Yes! Two kids, Katelin (15) and Levi (11). I also lost a boy and girl to miscarriage and one that was too early to know. Saddest time in my life I have to say…but it’s made me a stronger and more compassionate person. Isn’t it amazing that our scars make us beautiful?

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

Oh boy…sarcasm is not a great thing. But the wit and quickness involved is something we simply cannot do without in our home. It’s so bad that when Levi was 3 years old he gave his first eye roll, head tilt and “oh pulease…” Enough said!

5. Scary movie or happy endings?

I hate like scary movies. I’m that annoying person in an action movie that actually screams when the guns come out. My blood pressure literally rises with suspense, and I cannot stand to be frightened! Like when someone jumps out of a corner or is standing in a dark room…nope! Not me. Not my thing. Hubby will be sat there enjoying it and I have a scarf blocking my eyes!

6. Do you have any special talents?

Music is my thing. I sing. Play piano and flute. And I love to dance. If you pay me enough I can rap free style – I mean spoken word poetry…

7. When was the last time you cried?

I cried really hard last weekend (7/29/17). I was at a themed convention called, “Don’t Give Up!” in Tampa with my family. There was a dramatization of a woman who lost her dad and how she coped with it by relying on God. It felt so real! Exactly how I felt when I lost my dad. Even though it’s been almost 20 years (October 1997), I still miss him. Full out ugly cry ensued.

8. What is your favorite drink? Animal? Perfume?

OK seriously what a strange series of questions! Drink would be fizzy Pellegrino with lime twist. Animal is Portuguese water dog. Perfume is Belara Midnight by Mary Kay.

9. What phone do you have?

Currently I am loving my iPhone 7+. I was a super slow adopter of apple products. Old school lover of a blackberry until my friends all laughed me into submission. Now I am an Apple product robot. Sorry, I’m not sorry!

10. What was your favorite trip/vacation?

My hubby Mark is the “King of Travel” so we have had some great travels in currently 28+ years of marriage. However, one of the very best trips we have taken, was for our 10th anniversary. We went to the south of Spain. It was a 5 day trip; hotel, air, food for $500 per person. My brother-in-law saw a tiny add in the NY Times and we thought it might not even be a real offer. We called, found out it was legit and started our planning. I was super excited. A month or so later we found out we were pregnant with our first baby. Crazy! Even more excited. 10th anniversary. After only just trying to get pregnant for a short time – boom! We were flying high and all was right in our happy world…until it wasn’t. Imperfect life happened and on May 10, 1999, the same week we were supposed to travel, I miscarried our baby. The devastation was real! I never thought I would understand anything again, let alone laugh, have fun or have even an ounce of self-esteem or self-love. We called the travel agent and told our story. Without even asking for any proof from our doctor, and without insurance they allowed us to cancel, reschedule for a month after my surgery and honored the $500 price even though going in the month of June would have doubled the price.

So why was this the best trip/vacation ever? The endless days summer days when the sun set around 10pm, the blue waters of the Mediterranean sea, the pink mountains capped in snow all around, the warm loving friends we met, the tiny, smooth, multi-colored pebbles on the beach and the miracle of knowing only God could create an earth so perfectly beautiful, fostered my faith that I could feel good again.

“How agreeable is to feel the sea breeze playing upon one’s face. The heroine of this piece seems to have gone to the sea shore to feel this sensation that is so refreshing and restorative for her skin.” Elisa Sculpture – Brisa 1999/5000

And by the time we came home I was on the road to healing.

To commemorate that time in our lives and for my anniversary, Mark gave me “Breeze” a 5000 piece, limited edition Elisa sculpture. Ironically we got number 1999 without even asking. And until Katelin was finally born in 2002, Brisa, as she is known in Spanish, was my treasured daughter. Now I have the real thing to accompany my doll. Positivity really can be born during adversity.

Ready to get your positive energy in check? Looking to clean up your self-talk, create a personal affirmation plan or ease your way into releasing your negativity so your positivity can reign? Complete the questionnaire for a free coaching strategy session.